Wednesday December 14, 2011 SPECIAL REPORT By Nick Chesterfield at West Papua Media, with local sources

Thousands of people have reportedly fled in terror from a large area in Paniai, West Papua as a massive combined Police and military offensive attacked villages on December 13, attempting to break armed resistance from pro-independence guerrillas.

Credible human rights sources are claiming up to 20 local people have been shot dead by Indonesian security forces around the jungle centre of Markas Eduda, during a brutal operation that is reported to have razed 26 villages, and caused over 10,000 people to flee to the relative safety of Enaratoli.

Over four full strength combat battalions of Indonesian army (TNI) Kostrad commandos from Battalion 753, Brimob paramilitary police, and elite counter-terrorism troops from Detachment 88 - all units armed, trained, and supplied by the Australian Government were deployed in a cordon to surround the headquarters of the Paniai Free Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), under the command of General Jhon Yogi.

Urgent text messages were received reporting an attack on Markas Eduda by Brimob and the TNI. According to people in Paniai and those close to sources near Markas Eduda, by 13:30 local time the base had been surrounded by troops. At 14:05 local time a Paniai based contact reported to West Papua Media that the TNI and Brimob had entered Eduda and surrounding hamlets and proceeded to torch homes. Ground and air attacks (by helicopter) were both reported.

In a massive escalation to constant military operations that have been carried out across Paniai since April 2011, Indonesian forces dropped ground troops by helicopters into 26 villages surrounding the TPN headquarters.

An office of a non-government Peace and Justice Secretariat was amongst those burnt to the ground in Eduda.

Helicopters were used repeatedly before and during the attack, with a witness reporting via SMS that t upon sunrise at 0615 local time helicopters began strafing the villages in the operation area and firing teargas upon local residents. Local sources claimed that Indonesian troops fired live grenades, bombs and tear gas from the helicopters while storming the villages surrounding Eduda.

Unconfirmed reports described the helicopters as firing live rounds and also dropping fuel onto traditional huts which were then set on fire.

Combined forces of the military, police, BRIMOB and Detachment 88 were ferried by further helicopters into 14 locations around the headquarters, and proceeded to clear every village. Multiple contacts were reported throughout the day from both sides, and heavy fighting was occurring from resistance forces.

According to credible reports from local sources, by the close of Tuesday, Police failed to arrest any member of the OPM led by Yogi, and the Eduda headquarters were still controlled by the TPN / OPM. However reports of a heavy gun battle with troops and police Mobile Brigade was still evident as night drew close. However unconfirmed reports stated that seven helicopters were landed on the Eduda parade ground and had occupied the village, but TPN forces had retreated to the forest.

One Indonesian police officer is confirmed dead from after ongoing firefights with TPN troops, and and another seriously injured. Human rights sources have also claimed that the TPN sustained casualties, though the number or condition is unknown at this stage.

Independent West Papuan journalist Oktavianus Pogau was also in close contact with local witnesses. Yustinus Gobay, a villager Paniai who spoke with Pogau via phone, said he hold grave fears for casualties. “At OPM place we still do not know, but chances are there definitely are a lot of victims, because they were attacked from the air by helicopter,” explained Gobay.

At least 130 named villages in the Military Operations Area (Daerah Operasi Militer. DOM) have been reported by credible local human rights sources as being abandoned by residents. As each village has a minimum of four large families (min 40 people), with many housing up to ten families each (80 people), a simple demographic extrapolation indicates that between 5400 and 10800 Paniai villagers have had to flee the military operations. (Full list of villages follows report).

Church sources have reported that the refugees are seeking shelter in the Enaratoli area and are relying on traditional kinship reciprocities. No food, sanitation or medical aid has been made available by any government agency to give relief to this large number of internally displaced people.

“We do not know how long the war between the military / police and the TPN / OPM will continue,” Gobay told journalist Pogau. “We have fled our homes due to fear, and the attention of the local government doesnt exist,” said Gobay

Local residents have expressed grave fears via SMS to West Papua Media that the current operations are designed by the Indonesian security forces as a final push to push us over the edge of genocide, to make Orang Asli (Indigenous people) spent and murdered, fast and quick.

Messages sent to West Papua Media from multiple sources claimed that State of Indonesia is considered a country hostile to humanity and is implementing Terrorism Program in Papua since May 1, 1963, referring to the date of invasion by Indonesian forces.

Since 7 December, civilians from the villages and around Dagouto and Eduda have been progressively evacuated, with no regard for welfare, by security forces. Many were housed in a multipurpose hall Uwatawogi Enarotali. This evacuation was carried out at the request of Chief of Police, Secretary of Paniai District and Commander of the Special Team Gegana Brimob, to broaden the battlefield between the TPN and the Mobile Brigade. Paniai Civilians became increasingly restless and frightened, and had little access to food or basic needs, their starving even more pronounced.

According to human rights sources, security forces have been constantly targeting remote communities that inhabit the foothills along the West-East mountain range which extends from the Grasberg to Cape Dagouto-Lake Paniai.

Local leaders led by the Chairman of the Regional Indigenous Council (DAD) in Paniai, Jhon Gobay, complained earlier this month to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Jakarta about the unrest and violence against citizens in the district due to the presence of members of the Police Mobile Brigade from Paniai.

During the meeting, DAD Paniai firmly ask the President and Chief of Police to immediately withdraw troops from Mobile Brigade Paniai district. Gobay said the situation of occupation has caused many people becoming victims of security force harassment due to the stigma of being OPM attached to the citizens of Papua, especially in the Paniai District.

The President of the Federated Republic of West Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembut, speaking from his cell in Jayapura where he is awaiting trial on treason charges, appealed to the United States and international community to urge Indonesia to show respect for human rights and democracy in West Papua.

The situation is ongoing and developing and West Papua Media will continue to closely monitor events.

Please urgently help us continue this work. @westpapuamedia working tirelessly to end impunity in Papua with effective journalism. But we need your help - PLEASE DONATE NOW wp.me/P1aPlR-116

Full list of villages burnt and attacked by Indonesian security forces:

Does the world wish to know about Indonesia’s on-going genocide of Papuans?

Indonesia is now seeking compensation from the Dutch over atrocities committed in the 1945-1949 independence war.

When will West Papuans be able to seek compensation from Indonesia over atrocities committed against them since 1963?

Should the East Timorese people be lodging similar claims over their decades of suffering under Indonesian rule?

Kim Peart

Posted by Kim Peart on 14/12/11 at 05:53 AM

Once the Greens would be speaking-out about this.
They seem to have convinced themselves that new taxes, carbon and same sex marriage outweighs genocide on our doorstep.

Posted by Karl Stevens on 14/12/11 at 07:31 AM

It continually has bothered me that at adfa/rmc we continually train kopassus, the indonesian ‘special forces’. Do we do that at the behest of the americans or off our own bat? In any case it is an indictment of our own foreign policy. No doubt though, out foreign policy is dictated by trade including our overseas aid through ausaid etc. It leaves me with a sense of shame as an australian citizen, even before the east timor slaughter.
Notwithstanding that west papua is deemed to be a journalist free zone, it is imperative that news keeps coming out to educate the world, deeply disturbing as that news may be.

Posted by russell on 14/12/11 at 09:36 AM

I note your concerns here Kim, I share the same concerns as yourself.
I also note that very little information or media coverage has been given by Australia’s media, as well as any detailing reports from this Government to the hugely increased military offensive just off our Australian shores.

Why this is so should have far many more people asking important searching questions from our Federal government also the Defence Establishment Heads?
The Ginormous amount of foreign aid that flows to this Indonesian government from Australian taxpayers would go a long way to solving many of Australia’s own financial shortfalls.

I will today send a letter to Julia Gillard on this very issue.
As to when it may be responded to is in the hands of an apparently unconcerned government.

I would like to suggest that this amount of slaughter is not unlike the military offensive which the Indonesian government had created in battling against the East Timorese seeking their independance, by so many teams of local militiamen, all created and paid for by the Indonesian Military Generals not so long ago.
This matter reeks of the same repugnant indifference displayed by the then duo of Liberal government Prime minister John Howard and his foreign-aid cheque-book toting fellow inclined Foreign Affairs minister, Alexander Downer!

Let’s get this matter out into the open to let all others in this Country to become aware of this atrocious killing action so close to our very shores?

Posted by William Boeder on 14/12/11 at 11:02 AM

I strongly object to Indonesia’s presence in West Papua and their rapid colonisation of that area with thousands of Indonesians.Aid that might have gone to Indonesians for whatever cause, should be used instead to help the West Papuans shake off the Indonesian yoke.

I request that there be no more trade from Australia to Indonesia until Indonesian military and Indonesian expats in West Papua, leave forthwith.

I have even been told by a PNG student in Australia that the Indonesian military have been breaching the border coming over into PNG from West Papua, as if the PNG army was nothing to care about. Such arrogance is inexcusable and should be punished in the international courts.

Posted by Martin Beams on 14/12/11 at 01:14 PM

Thanks Kim for posting this. I do need to say that the Greens are doing something about it - Senator Richard Di Natale is their spokesperson and he has been very busy on the issue since he took the portfolio, and his team are working hard.

Expect a statement on this particular abuse very soon.

Now for the other cowards in Parliament?

Posted by Nick Chesterfield on 14/12/11 at 02:14 PM

Mates,what can you say?The genocide used to be in your front parlours.

Posted by Philip Lowe on 15/12/11 at 02:06 AM

I refer to my comment at #4, a copy of this letter sent to our Prime Minister will be forwarded to the Australian Defence Headquarters, also seeking answers to this merciless slaughter of our former World War 2 Allies, along with questions toward Australia’s military equipment weaponry, hardware and arms holdings.
Another copy to one of this States trusted MLCs so that there is some sort of copy that will form a proof positive letter was sent, (in case of accidental loss,) is to be kept on private record.
Perhaps a copy for Tas Times if so approved for publication by our worthy Editor.

Posted by William Boeder on 15/12/11 at 11:34 AM

There is an Achilles heel when it come to the Indonesian occupation of New Guinea, with the 1969 plebiscite, which according to the 1962 New York agreement was to be run by international standards.

If the Act of Free Choice were held today, would Indonesia be allowed to get away with selecting 1025 men to determine the fate of half of New Guinea, lecture them under the shadow of guns and then tell them to step over a line drawn in the dirt as the method of voting? No women were involved. Not one.

Only when the anger of the free world turns on Jakarta and demands that the Papuan people be allowed a free and fair vote, run by the United Nations and independently observed, will the Papuan people of west New Guinea be granted the vote that they were cheated out of in 1969, along with their lands and resources. In the mean time, all national governments who allowed the Indonesian invasion of New Guinea should do what is right and offer an official apology to the West Papuan people, for letting them down so completely in their hour, years and decades of need.

Unless there is international action on the West Papuan basic human right to self-determination, the slow-motion genocide will simply continue and in changing political circumstances, may simply press on through the whole island of New Guinea.

In 1942 Australian diggers fought the Japanese invasion of New Guinea in the mud and blood of the Kokoda Track. In 1962 Australasia surrendered west New Guinea and walked away as if it never existed. What could have changed in a generation to turn heroes into cowards?

Kim Peart

Posted by Kim Peart on 15/12/11 at 08:47 PM

Re: 7 Philip Lowe

Absolutely correct, which is all the more reason to consider the consequences of forced Indonesian colonialism being allowed to become permanent occupation and pursued by genocide through the island of New Guinea. We know the consequences. British colonial activities in New Holland in 1788 should not become a justification for Indonesian colonial activities in New Guinea in 1962, let alone 2012.

If the free world demands that Indonesia allow the United Nations to run a belated and appropriate vote on western Papuan self-determination, then the beginning of justice will have been served.

Considering the troubles in Papua New Guinea, with an illiteracy rate of over 50 percent, Australia has failed the whole island of New Guinea and allowed a geopolitical environment to emerge that could ultimately see the Indonesian colonial presence pursued through the whole island.

Having surrendered our forward defence at the most basic level of human strength, we may have created a future war that will see the invasion of Australia, as Indonesian forces are now just a few kilometres from Australia’s northern islands in the Torres Straight.

I am concerned that China’s growing empire may come to see Indonesia as a preferred friend, to ensure safe shipping from the Middle East, especially if China’s main interest south of the equator is resources.

Demanding West Papuan self-determination may become our most basic act of forward defence, followed by extensive work by the free world to strengthen the Papuans of New Guinea, tackling the rampant disease problems and reducing the illiteracy level to zero.

Kim Peart

Posted by Kim Peart on 15/12/11 at 09:19 PM

Philip Lowe (7): Absolutely correct, which is all the more reason to consider the consequences of forced Indonesian colonialism being allowed to become permanent occupation and pursued by genocide through the island of New Guinea. We know the consequences. British colonial activities in New Holland in 1788 should not become a justification for Indonesian colonial activities in New Guinea in 1962, let alone 2012.

If the free world demands that Indonesia allow the United Nations to run a belated and appropriate vote on western Papuan self-determination, then the beginning of justice will have been served.

Considering the troubles in Papua New Guinea, with an illiteracy rate of over 50 percent, Australia has failed the whole island of New Guinea and allowed a geopolitical environment to emerge that could ultimately see the Indonesian colonial presence pursued through the whole island.

Having surrendered our forward defence at the most basic level of human strength, we may have created a future war that will see the invasion of Australia, as Indonesian forces are now just a few kilometres from Australia’s northern islands in the Torres Straight.

I am concerned that China’s growing empire may come to see Indonesia as a preferred friend, to ensure safe shipping from the Middle East, especially if China’s main interest south of the equator is resources.

Demanding West Papuan self-determination may become our most basic act of forward defence, followed by extensive work by the free world to strengthen the Papuans of New Guinea, tackling the rampant disease problems and reducing the illiteracy level to zero.

We are receiving highly distressing accounts of indiscriminate and brutal military raids, in the Paniai District in the Highlands of West Papua.

We believe the information already received makes a compelling case for international intervention to stop the violence. At the very least New Zealand should now insist that the area be opened up and journalists, the Red Cross and other humanitarian workers given free access, so that the information can be verified and appropriate help provided to the victims.

Detailed reports from many sources suggest that Indonesian army battalions, Indonesian Brimob paramilitary police and elite counter-terrorism troops from Detachment 88 are responsible for the razing of villages and forced evacuations.

This is apparently part of a military campaign against local members of the Free Papua National Liberation Army. We are advised that some 27 villages have been devastated , that homes schools and other buildings have been burnt and that an unknown number of people have been killed by live military fire. One report lists the names of 18 victims.

Civilian helicopter have been brought in to drop live grenades and chemical dispersal weapons onto several villages. The helicopters are also said to have strafed the villages with sniper and machine-gun fire. Thousands of civilian refugees have fled the area to other villages around Enaratoli, on the opposite side of Lake Paniai. There is said to be a police supervised secure ‘Care Centre’ in Enaratoli, which is overcrowded and lacking in basic requirements. Other refugees have fled into the forest or to live with other family members.

It is believed that the Indonesian military forces are now arresting and interrogating civilians including children.

We call on you to urgently take up these serious and credible allegations of gross human rights violations with the Indonesian authorities.

Yours sincerely,

Maire Leadbeater
For the Indonesia Human Rights Committee

Posted by Kim Peart on 16/12/11 at 11:51 PM

Media Release

Dr. Richard Di Natale
Greens Senator for Victoria

16/12/11

Australia must act after more conflict in West Papua: Greens

Greens’ spokesperson for West Papua, Senator Richard Di Natale, has called for urgent action in response to reports of conflict, deaths and displacement in the Paniai region of West Papua.

“Australia can no longer stand silent while West Papua burns,” said Senator Di Natale.

“There are reports of villages being raided and razed by Indonesian forces, which may have been trained and armed by Australia.

“In addition to 15 deaths from shootings, thousands of West Papuans are reportedly displaced and some have died from an outbreak of diarrhoea in an overcrowded refugee care centre.

“The Australian Government must urge Indonesia to end the violence immediately, withdraw all military forces from the region and enter into a peaceful dialogue with the Free West Papua movement.

“We must also push for access to be given to the Red Cross so that much needed aid and care can be given to the Papuans in the region. Opening up the area to journalists and human rights organisations is needed so that we can monitor events like these.

“Australia must consider its military links to Indonesia and suspend all ties while such violence continues.

“We cannot stand idly by while this conflict escalates and human rights are being abused on our doorstop.”

Posted by Kim Peart on 16/12/11 at 11:55 PM

THE PARLEMENT PEOPLE OF BIAK RIGION
Address Wadadu Street, Biak City, West Papua,

On this time, we like to said thanks to you where you have declared your commitment to trough support and strugle self determination rights for West Papua people.

West Papua case is forgetting case of your goverment, international community and UN. So, we very need you with us to strugles self determination rights for West Papua people. We very need you to trhough strugles and figting West Papua case to get attantion and supporting from your international communities, your parlement and your government to bring this case to UN.

On this time we affirming also that West Papua people until now have strong good faith that transfering proccess West Papua teritory to Indonesian fully with manipulation and not according to international law practise. New York Agreement 1962 is juridiction under international law created by UN to given legitimation to Indonesian to became new colony for West Papua people from 1963- until now. UN its self given permit to Indonesian to do human crimes for West Papua people during 6 years to kill democration, kill freedom expression rights and human rights for West Papua people before plebisite or act of Free Choice it a part of New York agreement 1962 implementation on 1969. Our parenths and grand mother-father under of Indonesian weapons and Indonesian military crime to compared, to pointed 1.025 some of our parenths and grand mother-father to declared a apart of Indonesian. This is not justice, not fair and not democration. Indonesian, Nederland , USA and UN failed to protecte, promote, and fulfil human rights for West Papua people.

We need to affirming more that West Papua case is international law case, where the New York Agreement and its Act of Free Choice 1969 implementation is main case of West Papua. It mean not yet implementation Self Determination Rights for West Papua people under of international law principles, human rights standarts and UN chapters.

We need to affirming more that to the end of West Papua people must be according to international law principles, human rights standarts, and UN charters.

We need to affirming that West Papua people have rights to self determination according to international law principles, human rights standarts and UN chapters, because this rights not yet to do for West Papua people.

We need to affriming also that we refuse to the end West Papua case with Indonesian nasional laws, this is not internal case between Indonesia ( Jakarta) and Papua, but this is the international law case.

We write this letter to say thanks to you to through help us bring West Papua to attantion and care of your international community, your parlement and your government to bring and to end West Papua case according to international law principles, human rights standarts and UN chapters. And also to strugle and fighting self determination rights for West Papua people according to international law principles, human rights standarts and human rights.

That all our letter, on your attention, coperation, supporting and attention we say thank you very much and Marry Crismas and Happy New Year 2012

Sincely
Harry Ronsumbre
Chair

Posted by Kim Peart on 18/12/11 at 04:31 AM

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